TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS – The highly contentious presidential election in Honduras is once again embroiled in controversy after electoral authorities abruptly suspended the publication of official results. This latest halt in the vote tallying process occurs as centrist candidate Salvador Nasralla maintains a narrow lead over his conservative rival, Nasry Asfura, who has received strong public backing from former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Electoral System Glitches and Accusations
The suspension of updated results, which officials attributed to "system maintenance," reportedly happened without any prior warning. Cossette Lopez-Osorio, an official at Honduras' electoral council, sharply criticized this development on X, calling it "inexcusable."
With a significant portion of votes counted, specifically 79.60%, Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party (PLH) holds 40.27% of the support. This places him less than 16,000 votes ahead of Nasry Asfura from the National Party, who stands at 39.64%. Rixi Moncada, the candidate for the ruling leftist LIBRE Party, is considerably behind in third place with 19.01%.
This tightly contested electoral race has been marred by persistent system delays and widespread allegations of fraud. Adding a layer of international complexity, former U.S. President Donald Trump has actively supported Asfura, publicly alleging fraud without providing concrete evidence to substantiate his claims.
International Calls for Patience Amidst Tensions
In response to the escalating tensions and uncertainties, election observers from prominent international bodies, including the European Union and the Organization of American States, along with Honduras' own electoral authority, have issued appeals for calm and patience. They emphasize the importance of allowing the final votes to be meticulously counted.
Early preliminary results, initially released on Monday, had shown Nasry Asfura with a slim lead of approximately 500 votes. This initial discrepancy led election organizers to declare a "technical tie" and suggest that votes would need to be counted by hand. However, when the count was subsequently updated on Tuesday, a significant shift occurred, with Salvador Nasralla taking a narrow lead.
Trump's Influence and Honduran Sovereignty
Mark Weisbrot, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a Washington-based think tank, commented on the undeniable impact of Trump's intervention and his direct accusations against Asfura's rivals. Weisbrot specifically highlighted Trump's implied threat to cut funds if Asfura did not win, suggesting such an action "would be considered likely to cause economic harm to Honduras and its people."
Trump continued to fan the flames on his Truth Social platform, publicly stating on Monday night that Honduras was "trying to change the results of their Presidential Election." He issued a stark warning, declaring, "If they do there will be hell to pay!" He further asserted that "The people of Honduras voted in overwhelming numbers on November 30th."
Rixi Moncada, the ruling party's candidate, publicly rejected the vote transmission system on Telesur on Wednesday, describing it as flawed and criticizing its severe lack of transparency. Addressing Trump's interference, Moncada unequivocally stated that it violated all international protocols, constituting "a direct intervention that affects the interests of the Honduran people." The nation now anxiously awaits the transparent and complete resolution of its presidential election, navigating a complex environment of political scrutiny and international concern.